Lowell Stanley Heinrichs was born on June 6, 1936, the third child of Peter and Lillie (Boese) Heinrichs. He was born in the Salem Hospital in Hillsboro, KS. He grew up on the Heinrichs farm, homesteaded by his grandparents (Heinrichs) in the Canton, KS area. He attended the Emma Valley Grade School and graduated from Goessel High school in 1954. He attended the Springfield Mennonite Church near his home. He was baptized, upon confession of faith, in 1950 in a nearby farm pond by C. F. Plett.
On June 1, 1956, Lowell and Bonnie were married at Tabor Mennonite Church near Goessel, KS. During that time Reverend H. B. Schmidt was advising young couples getting married to go into 1-W service. Lowell and Bonnie moved to Evanston, Illinois where they both worked as nurse aids. Lowell worked mainly with male patients and Bonnie worked on the second floor. After two years in 1-W service, Lowell and Bonnie moved back home to Hillsboro, KS. He learned the auto body trade and worked at the Hillsboro Body Shop for 10 years. Lowell then worked at Reimer Body Shop as the shop foreman for the next 30 years. Lowell and Bonnie lived in several rental houses in Hillsboro until they bought a home on South Ash Street. Two sons were born to them. Romney was born in 1958 at Evanston Hospital and Kendall was born in 1959 at Bethesda Hospital. In 1970 they purchased and moved to the farm outside of Goessel where the boys grew up and attended school in Goessel.
When Lowell and Bonnie returned home from 1-W service they joined the Tabor Mennonite Church. Lowell was an active member there serving as a trustee, usher, and singing in Men’s groups. Lowell sang in the Tabor Men’s Quartet, providing music for many functions. Lowell enjoyed fishing and camping trips with family and friends. The family raised sheep and worked hard fixing up the family farm, planting trees, and doing landscape projects to improve the property. Most Saturdays would end up with a wiener roast around the bonfire. After retiring from Reimer Body Shop, Lowell started a body shop at their home in rural Goessel. Romney began working with Lowell doing collision work and restoring many classic cars, specializing in Mustangs. Lowell enjoyed restoring cars and tractors and liked doing quality work for his customers. A highlight was taking these cars and tractors to shows and visiting with people about them. Owning his own business, and working with his son Romney, were the most enjoyable and rewarding years of his body shop career. Lowell also enjoyed repairing and painting cars and tractors to be sold at the MCC Sale in Hutchinson.
Lowell and Bonnie enjoyed watching their sons and grandchildren in their sports and school activities. Their grandchildren have fond memories of camping and fishing with Grandpa. Lowell always had time for his grandchildren. A highlight was building a clubhouse with them so they could play in it when visiting.
Lowell and Bonnie enjoyed living on the farm until 2020 when they sold the property and moved to Lakeside Inclusive Apartments at Schowalter Villa in Hesston, KS. There he enjoyed fishing at Lake Vista and gardening. Lowell enjoyed growing and sharing produce with his family and friends. Watermelons, cucumbers and tomatoes were always welcomed by those close to him.
Lowell is survived by his wife Bonnie; son, Romney (Donna) Heinrichs, grandchildren, Andrew and Katrina of Hesston, KS; Kendall (Jana) Heinrichs; grandchildren, Vanessa and Logan of Wichita, KS; sister Carol (Walt) Friesen. He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Lillie Heinrichs; sister Wanda (Richard) Harms.
Cremation is planned with family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 26, 2021 at Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Goessel. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 27, at Tabor Mennonite Church, rural Newton. Memorial contributions may be made to Tabor Mennonite Church or Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 96, Goessel, KS 67053.
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